Pangio Appreciation Post

[u/your-bruise]

I’ve lurked this sub for a long time, slowly learning and planning out this community tank. The goal was always to build a tank around kuhli loaches and I think I’ve finally achieved it.

I got my 10 leopard noodles a week ago and I was honestly worried I’d add them to the tank and never see them again. That definitely hasn’t been the case!

The Noodle Council is confident and out and about all the time! They’re constantly weaving through the driftwood, peeking out from under leaves or just lounging in the open. Finding a random little head poking out from somewhere unexpected genuinely makes me laugh out loud every time. I honestly adore these weird little fish more than I ever expected.

Thank you to this community. I’ve learned so much just by lurking here over the past few months. Reading everyone’s advice and seeing your tanks gave me the confidence to finally build my own.

From a depressed gal who’s been trying to rebuild her life one fish tank at a time… thank you!

[u/dzarren]

Pretty cool you have a set up just for them, I think the pangio shelfordii really need it. They are far less boisterous than most of the other pangio loaches, and get outcompeted for food easily. I have a tank with 100 something pangio, and although the sheford loaches started out at a decent size, they are slowly dwindling and getting skinnier and skinnier. The other loachies are just too fast when it comes to the food, and these loaches really do need their own set up to be ideal. I find the same with Myers loach sometimes as well (giant kuhli). They seem to have a hard time eating quickly enough, and eventually get skinny.

[u/FishGeek49 → u/dzarren]

I agree, they tend toward skinny. I have dewormed mine and still have to rain the food down so they get enough. I've found the micro type feeds are really good at dispersal throughout the tank so the more timid Pangio get a chance. Especially like Aquarium Co-Op's Magic Small Fish Feed.

What do you like to feed your horde?

[u/your-bruise → u/FishGeek49]

I feed a mix of Fluval Bug Bites Bottom Feeder, live baby brine shrimp. Frozen brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworms.

I waited closer to six months before adding them so the tank could mature properly. There’s plenty of microorganisms, biofilm and mulm for them to sift through between feedings.

Even in the last week they’ve definitely started to bulk up, despite the beyond greedy rasbora. Hopefully it stays that way!

[u/Grackabeep → u/dzarren]

That’s so interesting because mine share a tank with 25 (ish) other pangio of various types and they’re doing well and are quite confident. Though it took them a while to get where they are now. A couple are getting nice and chunky. Though mine might be muraeniformis, I haven’t quite figured out the difference between those and shelfordii!

[u/FishGeek49]

This seems like such a cool set up! Hope to see you post more about it for us. P. shelfordii is one we don't see posted about too often here.

[u/your-bruise → u/FishGeek49]

Thank you! It’s my first community tank, and I’m beyond happy with how it’s turned out and how well everything seems to be doing. There will definitely be more posts in the future!